86-year-old matriarch and three of her sons all die after contracting coronavirus

By Caitlin O'Kane

Updated on: April 7, 2020 / 7:19 PM
/ CBS News

Coronavirus explodes across Southern states

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting nearly everyone in the world in different ways, but for one Louisiana family, the deadly virus inflicted a particularly devastating blow. Four members of the same family died after contracting the virus, including the 86-year-old matriarch. Antoinette Franklin and three of her sons all died within days of each other.

"Wake up! Covid-19 doesn't discriminate in who it infects, but >70% of deaths in LA are African-American," former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu tweeted. That statistic was shared earlier by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards during a press briefing.

Landrieu compared the coronavirus crisis to Hurricane Katrina. "The communities that had generational wealth came back much faster [after Katrina]. You'll see that with the people that have access to transportation and health care. The same is true with food security. Focus on equitable response," he tweeted.

To date, there have been at least 4,942 confirmed coronavirus cases in New Orleans and 185 deaths, according to New Orleans Public Health.